KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia will take action against air force personnel involved in the theft of a 14.5-million-dollar fighter jet engine sold to a South American company, according to reports Sunday.
Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the company hired an agent to take the 50-million-ringgit engine out of the country from a military airbase, the Star newspaper and national news agency Bernama reported.
"The ministry will take legal action at the international level to charge the company involved," he was quoted as saying by Bernama, without specifying the type of action or identifying the company.
"Stern action will also be taken against the Royal Malaysian Air Force staff involved for betraying the country," the minister added.
Air force officers found the jet engine was missing late last year during a routine maintenance service, but the matter became public only after the English-language New Straits Times published a report on Saturday.
The newspaper also said police had arrested four individuals, including the buyer, the seller and air force personnel who assisted in stealing the engine, used as powerplant for a single-seat fighter and reconnaissance aircraft.

Millions of dollars worth of Malaysian military equipment has been stolen for sale on the black market, a report said Tuesday, after officials revealed two fighter jet engines had gone missing.

Millions of dollars worth of Malaysian military equipment has been stolen for sale on the black market, a report said Tuesday, after officials revealed two fighter jet engines had gone missing.

Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail said two engines worth 29 million dollars had been taken from a military airbase.

The airforce reported the theft of the US-made Northrop F-5E jet engines in August last year.

Armed forces chief Azizan Ariffin said the theft was only the "tip of the iceberg" after an audit revealed millions of ringgit worth of equipment was missing, the New Straits Times reported.

Azizan said those found guilty of stealing and selling the engines should be charged with treason.

"Their act jeopardises national security. They are traitors and should be punished for treason," he said.
The newspaper said the stolen jet engines were sold to arms dealers on the black market abroad.

The end buyer of the stolen kit was not immediately clear, but a number of countries have fighters that use the engines.

Prime Minister Najib Razak Monday vowed there would be no cover-up in the investigation.
Police have arrested four individuals, including the buyer, the seller and airforce personnel who assisted in stealing the engine.

Points and laughs at malaysian airbase security:sAni_babymonkey2:
a friggin jet engine really now
HA HA !
No seriously great going guys :yourock:, i feel so much safer knowing malaysian defence equipment can just end up on the balck market just like that!(being sarcastic here)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Two missing U.S.-made fighter jet engines worth $29 million and stolen from a Malaysian military airbase have been traced to Argentina, police said Dec. 24.

ENGINES INTENDED FOR F-5E fighters, such as those shown above, ended up in Argentina, Malaysian police said Dec. 24. (U.S. AIR FORCE)
Police chief Musa Hasan said officers were checking with their counterparts in Buenos Aires to confirm if the missing engines are still in the country.

"The stolen engines have been taken to Argentina," the police chief said. "We have to check if the engines are still in that country."

Musa told the Star newspaper that several top Royal Malaysian Air Force officers, including generals, are expected to be questioned in connection with the theft.

Four people, including three low-ranking personnel, have already been arrested and freed on bail for their alleged role in the theft, he said according to the newspaper.

"We need to question all of them as it is not easy to just cart away the engines without authorization and proper documents," he was quoted as saying.

The government is facing a storm of criticism over allegations of official corruption after the theft of the engines.

News reports this week said the two Northrop Grumman F-5E jet engines had been sold on the black market by military officers to a South American company after being taken from a military airbase, apparently last year.

Armed forces chief Azizan Ariffin said the theft was only the "tip of the iceberg" after a newly completed audit revealed equipment worth millions of ringgit was missing, the New Straits Times reported Dec. 22.

Besides the engines, military equipment including parts of the jet fighter were stolen.

A number of countries subject to U.S. arms embargos, including Iran, Sudan and Venezuela, have F-5 fighters that use the antiquated engines.